External Examiners’ ConferenceContext

Professor Mary Watkins

External Context

• Centrality of external examiner’s role to assurance of standards and maintenance of quality

• QAA Institutional Audit: confidence in our management of standards and quality

The institutional context

• Commitment to excellence in teaching and learning – ‘transforming lives through knowledge’

• Teaching and Learning Strategy and Assessment Policy

• External examiners comment on whether assessment policy is realised in programmes

Future developments

• Induction and briefing

• Ongoing UUK/GuildHE review of external examining arrangements

The Role of the External Examiner at the University of

Plymouth

Jane Hopkinson

Role of the External Examinerassessment of standards

External Examiner involvement ensures that:

• the University’s awards are comparable in standard to awards in other UK HE institutions

• standards are appropriate by reference to published national subject benchmarks, FHEQ and the University’s programme and module specifications

Role of the External Examiner - assessment process

External Examiner involvement also ensures that the assessment process:• measures student achievement against the intended

learning outcomes

• is in line with the University’s Assessment Policy

• is operated fairly and equitably and in accordance with University Regulations

Underpinning processes

• Common academic regulations

• Two-tier assessment panels/boards: separate roles of Subject and Award External Examiners clarified in External Examiners’ Notes for Guidance:

Subject external: reviews standards and achievement of learning outcomes

Award external: ensures that decisions on progression/awards for students are in line with the regulations and students treated equitably

Rationalisation of Award Boards

• Strengthened oversight of standards and consistency of decision making

• Reduction in the number of Award Assessment Boards (and consequently Award External Examiners)

• To be phased in over a period of time to ensure continuity of arrangements

Expectations of a Subject External Examiner

• Agree assessments

• Review appropriate sample of work (and agree with subject team the means by which the sample is to be selected)

• Agree with subject team an appropriate method for adjusting module marks if necessary

Subject External Examiners are not expected to:

• Act as second or third markers or conduct viva voce examinations

• Amend individual student marks or review student profiles

• Consider extenuating circumstances

Subject External Examiner

The University also expects the Subject External Examiner to

• carry out an interim visit to see assessment in practice, and meet with students and with the programme team

• submit an annual report

Responding to External Examiners’ Reports

Sue Gregory

Annual Report

• Integral part of annual programme monitoring• Available at

http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/extexam• Deadline – 31 July 2010• Shared with student representatives• Formal written response• Annual institutional overview report

How do we use reports? Institutional example 1

• Strengthened briefing arrangements• Institution level EE conference• Subject level checklist developed• Available at

http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/extexam

How do we use reports? Institutional example 2

• Provide feedback on progress re Assessment Policy

How do we use reports? Institutional example 3

• Review of statistical data provided for Subject Assessment Panels/ Award Assessment Boards

Ongoing support for External Examiners

Sue Gregory

Responsibilities for External Examiners – Quality Support

• Appointment and institutional level briefingLetter of appointment and contractInduction packAnnual briefing pack

• Monitoring of reports and response to university issuesSummary of institutional issues

• Website: http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/extexam

Responsibilities for External Examiners – Faculties

• Management of their External Examiners:NominationReportingFee payment

• Support – subject level induction and mentoring arrangements